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Friday, March 1, 2013

Finding My Eye: Stop Apologizing

I think the main thing that I apologize for relating to my photography is that I don't photograph people. I have been asked a couple of times to do events and I have always apologized and said "I don't do people".

Only real photographers do people and get paid for it. They have professional grade cameras and Speedlite flashes, lighting stands and backdrops. Their cameras even seem to make a "real photographer" click when they press the shutter release. They do lots of post processing, fixing every blemish, every smudge, and even whitening eyes and teeth.

I take pictures of nature, old buildings, candy and teacups. Things that don't move unless I move them. I don't get paid to do that. I have an upper end entry level DSLR, and a nice tripod. I don't have a Speedlite flash or any studio equipment.

The thing is, I don't care that I don't do people, that I don't get paid or that I don't have high end equipment. I don't do a lot of post processing, I prefer to get it as right as possible straight out of the camera. I am happy with my progress as a photographer and blogger. I do have to work on being comfortable saying that to other people when they ask what I do.

I know I have more to learn, but that's why I take classes and continue to push myself. It is all part of the Journey.

13 comments:

Only last week someone asked me if I'd be interested in shooting a small informal wedding - well I can't think of anything worse - no way!! People photos are not my thing either - no appeal at all. .I passed it to a friend who was delighted to do it - that's her 'style', but not mine. We're all different - and what you choose to shoot Sarah you do well.

Love your candy photo. The only person I like to photograph is my grandson. I have done a couple of weddings with my photo buddy and even though I came out of them with some beautiful shots they were some of the most anxiety filled days of my life. I have a couple of cameras and my favorite is my "girlie" camera, an entry level DLSR. I agree that it's time to quit apologizing, because there is nothing to apologize for. Be pround that you don't shoot people, I am.

Once again we share the same feelings. I don't do people and I've apologized for the people shots I have taken many times. That's just not for me either. I've even been told that since I can take a picture of nature, I ought to be able to take a picture of a person. Not so. Not my interest. The only pictures I take of people are my family, especially my five grandsons. Continue on as your are, because you are a fantastic things-that-don't-move photographer.

I couldn't agree with you more. I'd love to learn to do people, though - someday. Right now I'm just enjoying learning and growing and interacting with other people who are learning and growing. Your photos are fantastic - I'd say you've been learning a lot!

Hi Sarah, looks like you still have winter. Wonderful portrait! Someone asked me to do their son for graduation... yikes. But I will try. I just see a few daffodils popping up in my garden. Looks like spring is starting, I hope.

I'm not comfortable "doing people" either. The odd thing is that when I do photograph people, they like the results and so do I. But I still don't like doing it. There are lots of other photographers who do, though. (I wonder if they think they need to apologize for not taking nature photos!) You do what you do very well indeed. Keep doing it! No apologies needed.PS - Your comment about "Things that don't move unless I move them" made me laugh.

I rarely photograph people and I would not do it for a wedding or some other special event. I would get too nervous and then I probably would not do my best. I used to photograph children to keep a record of how they changed over time but I am not around any children now.I guess I used to apologize about not taking pictures of people but now I just say that I prefer to take Nature pictures (including animals) and pictures of inanimate objects. And, I agree that things don't move unless you move them.

Um....those are people in that first shot. I'm guessing you and someone dear to you. Jus' sayin'. : ) It's a sweet image. You may "shoot people" later. I never used to do that and have found that a bit more appealing as time goes on. Sometimes I even brighten eyes and whiten teeth-but don't tell anyone.Sounds like you know right where you're at photographically. How great is that? Certainty should not be over-rated. I too focus primarily on inanimate objects. That candy would catch my eye as well with it's cheerful colors. Hope you can stay on your "no apologizing" route. I tend to slip on and off that slippery slope. You must have those special ice shoes on.

Yes, no more apologizing! From your writing what I discern is that you've not only been apologizing for not meeting up to your definition of "photographer," but others definition of "photographer." Photographers are those people who photograph portraits and weddings, right? Everyone doesn't understand that there is so much more to photography than that. We can dispel that myth by confidently explaining that photography is so much more, through our words and images.